Ventilating apparatus



Oct. 22, 1940. L, J, RlCONDA 2,219,237

VENTILATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 30, 1938 i Beo .f Rican-da,

ATTORNEY "+1- @AA/L11 am f @mi 0a, 22,1940. LfJ. RICQNDA 2,219,237

VENT ILAT ING APPARATUS Filed July 30, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Leo J Riconda BY ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 22, 1940 Unirse T GFICE VEN TILATING APPTUS Application July 30, 1938, Serial No. 222,189

7 Claims.

This invention relates to Ventilating apparatus, and more particularly to the construction of the air inlet on a railroad car or the like.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, and practical ventilating apparatus, well adapted to meet the varying conditions of use. Another object is to provide apparatus of the above character neat and attractive in appearance but sturdy in construction to withstand hard usage. A still further object is to provide apparatus of the above character which will be inexpensive to manufacture and easily7 assembled. Another object is to provide apparatus of the above character to move air into an air inlet in an efficient manner. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the'features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of the various possi-ble embodiments of my invention:

Figure l is a perspective view of my Ventilating apparatus installed on the roof of a railroad car;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectio-n taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the apparatus having certain parts thereof broken away;

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation taken along the line 4 2 of Figure 2; and

Figures 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views indicating the operating characteristics of the apparatus. i

As conducive to a clearer understanding of the various novel features of the invention, it

might here be pointed out that the air inletl shown is a Ventilating apparatus on a` railroad car, particularly cars equipped with air conditioning equipment, and the inlet is located on the roof in an-outer surface extending in the direction of car movement and with the inlet exposed to the full force of the air stream when the car is moving. In the past difficulty has been experienced with air intake apparatus due to the fact that the air stream builds up a low pressure area around the leading edge of the opening. This low pressure area cuts do-Wn considerably the amount of air introduced into the car. More speciiically, referring to Figure 5, the action of an air stream on many ventilators now in use and lacking the deflectors disclosed herein, is

diagrammatically shown. Assuming that the car n",

to which the ventilator is attached is moving 4from left to right, the left-hand wall 8l is at the trailing edge ofthe inlet opening and the right-hand wall 'I9 is at the leading edge of the inlet opening. With the ventilator thus positioned, the plane ofthe inlet opening extends in the direction of car movement, and the air stream passes the ventilator in the direction shown by the arrow and strikes the leading edge of the :10

housing, flows thereunder and thence up in behind end wall 19. The action of the lower edge of the end wall on the air stream, plus the eiect of the air stream passing under the ventilator, causes eddy currents to be set up behind this wall, g as shown by the lines 80. These eddy currents suck the air in this portion of the ventilator downwardly and thus create a low pressure area therein. This prevents the ventilator from operating in an ecient manner. Furthermore,L when the air stream strikes end wall 8l this wall has the same eilect upon the air stream as wall 'I9 and a second set of eddy currents are set up therebehind, as indicated by lines 82; These eddy currents suck air from the inside of the ventilator under the lower edge of wall 8| and thus form another low pressure area within the ventilator. One of the various objects of this injvention is to provide practical and efficient apparatus for overcoming the above-mentioned difculties.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings, a ventilator generally indicatedv at I0 isshown attached to ya clerestory II of a railroad car covering the air intake opening therein. 'Ihe venti- Y lator includes a housing having a top I2, ends I3 and It (see also Figure 3), and a pair of doors I5 and I6 hinged to the front thereof. The bottom of the ventilator is provided with two openings 8 and 9 (Figure'li), which are-covered by a pair of iilters 56 and 5l, respectively. Mounted below these openings upon the ends of the ventilators are two deiiectors I'I and I8. These delectors direct the air in an even stream into openings 8 and 9 in a manner which will be fully pointed out below.

Referring now toFigures 1 and 3, top I2 and ends I3 and I4 are preferably welded together and have ilanges I9, 23 and 24 formed along their respective inner edges extending outwardly therefrom. These iianges have a series of holes 2S formed therein through which bolts may be passed to secure the housing to the clerestory.

As shown best in Figures 2 and 4, a supporting member 21 extends between and is secured'to the lower rear edges of ends I3 and I4. This member has a flange 28 (Figure 2) extending upwardly along its rear edge and preferably has a series of holes, one of which is shown at 29, formed therein adaptable to receive bolts which secure this flange to the clerestory of the car. A flange 30 extends downwardly from the` forward edge of supporting member 21 for purposes to be more fully described hereinafter.

Extending between the lower edges of ends I3 and I4 and secured thereto at its outer ends is a supporting strip 3| (Figures 2 and 3). Extending along the under surface and secured adjacent the outer edge of top I2 is a depending portion 36 which has ay projecting flange 31 formed thereon. Extending between projecting flange 31 and strip 3| is a channel-shaped member generally indicated at 39 (see Figures 2 and 3), the Walls 40 and 4I of which extend outwardly toward the front of the housing. vThe forward edges of ends I3 and I4, walls 48 and 4I, and flange 31 preferably lie in the same plane. The portions of flange 31 and strip 3! which would otherwise lie between walls 48 and 4I of channel 39 are cut away to permit door anges to enter the channel, as will be described. The top of channel 39 is notched to interfit with flange 31.

Thus channel flange 4I, strip 3|, ange 31, and the forward edge of end wall I4 frame the opening which receives filter 51 and provide a flanged aperture well adapted to receive door or closure I6, as will be more fully described hereinafter. Similarly channel flange 4I, strip 3|, flange 31, and the forward edge of end wall I3 frame a flanged aperture or opening for door I5.

Doors I5 and I5 are mounted on hinges Ilia and Ilia, respectively, and cover the apertures in the front of the-housing. These doors have a flange extending inwardly from their edges (Figure 2) and register with the flanges of the apertures just described to effect therewith a reasonably tight seal against the admission of air to render the filters more efficient. Gaskets, one of which is shown in section at 481, (Figure 2) are secured to the inner surface of the door and engage the aperture flanges when the doors are closed to further perfect the seal between the doors and their apertures.

Depending from strip 3| (Figures l and 3) is a series of lugs 35a, 35h, 35C, 35d, 35e, and 351. 'I'he outer surfaces of these lugs lie in a plane rearwardly spaced from the forward edge of strip 3| (Figure 2) and the end of lugs 35a and 35j are preferably larger than lugs 35h, 35C, 35d, and 35e.

Door I5 carries straps 6I which register respectively with lugs 35a, 35h, and 35e. Similarly, door I6 carries strap 82 adapted to register with lugs 35d, 35e, and 351. Each of straps 5I and 52 has extending therethrough a screw 83 rotatably secured to the strap by a collar 84 (Figure 2) and a wing nut 49 attached to the screw on opposite sides of the strap. Each of lugs 35a, 35h, 35e, 35d, 35e, and 35]c has a nut suitablyattached thereto in register with a hole in the lug through which screw 63 may be threaded into nut 65 when door I6 is closed. Thus the doors may be tightly sealed against their apertures by tightening their respective wing nuts.

At the center of the housing and extending between supporting strip 3| Y (Figure 2) and supporting member 21, is a supporting plate 38 (Figure 4). A channel 42 is secured to this plate and extends from the rear surface of channel 39 to flange 28. The width of channel 42 is less than the width of plate 38, leaving supporting edges 43 and 44 at its sides. A partition member 45 extends between the center portion of channel 42 and top I2 for purposes to be more fully described hereinafter.

Referring now to Figure 4, a pair of flanges 25 and 26 extend inwardly from the lower edges of end walls I3 and I 4. 'Ihese flanges are secured to the rear edge of supporting strip 3l and to the front edge of supporting member 2l. Thus the openings 8 and 9 in the bottom of the housing are bounded by rim structures which are formed by strip 3|, supporting member 2?, edges i3 and (it, and flanges 25 and 28. These rims or frames around openings 8 and 9 serve as supports for a pair of filters 58 and 5l. Filters 55 and 51 are inserted through doors l5 and I8 and are held in proper alignment with respect to openings 8 and 9 by a series of lugs 58 which are secured to supporting member 21 (Figure 2) and by a pair of' spacers 1I (see also Figure l) attached to the inner surfaces of doors I5 and IS.

In order to prevent vertical movement of the filters when they are in position in the housing, longitudinal springs 5|, 52, 53 and (Figures 2 and 4) are provided. These are secured to the inner surfaces of end walls I3 and Iii and on opposite sides of partition 45; they are preferably held in position by bolts which pass through loops formed on the ends of the springs and are all substantially similar in construction and installation to spring 53 (best shown in Figure 2) which is held in position by bolts 5ft?u and 55 threaded into suitable nuts secured to partition 45. Springs 5| and 52 cooperate respectively with flanges 25 and supporting edge 43 to hold filter 51 in place. Similarly springs 53 and 54 coact with supporting edge 44 and flange 25 to hold filter 58 in place. Thus filters 56 and 51 may be easily replaced through doors I 5 and I6 and when in position the longitudinal springs hold them in contact with the frames around openings 8 and 9 to prevent leakage of moisture and foreign niaterial around their lower edges. Also the springs resiliently hold the filters against vibration.

As noted above, deflectors I1 and I8 (Figure 1) are positioned at opposite ends of the ventilator adjacent the lower edges of ends I3 and I4 (see also Figures 3 and 4). Deiiector I1 extends between and is secured to lug 35a and liange 3U, while deflector I8 extends between and is secured to lugr 351 and flange 30. The defiectors are preferably streamlined or tear-shaped in cross section (Figure 4), and when the car is moving in the direction of the arrow in Figure 4, deflector I8 is streamlined in the direction of car movement and presents a curved leading blunt edge 15 to the air stream which is then passing the ventilator in the opposite direction. This curved leading blunt edgetapers to a trailing edge 16 which streamlines the body of the deiiector caus ing it to act upon the air stream in a way to be pointed out more fully hereinafter.

Deflector I1 adjacent end I3 is similar in construction and operation to deiiector I8, and when the car is moving opposite to the arrow in Figure 4 it presents a curved leading blunt edge 11 which tapers to a trailing edge 18. The deectors are both slanted upwardly, as may be seen in Figures 3 and 4, so that the top surfaces 64 and 85 slant toward openings 8 and 9. In addition to this, the deflectors slant longitudinally from the plane of the inlet in the manner best shown in Figure 2.

Referring now to Figure 6, the operation of a ventilator using a pair of deectors of the type disclosed hereinabove is diagrammatically shown. In this gure the air stream passes the ventilator in the direction shown by the arrow and first strikes the curved leading edge of deflector tion of eddy currents behind the leading edge or behind wall 83 of the ventilator. This eliminates low pressure areas, directs the air stream into the ventilator, and smooths the air stream passing therethrough. By slanting the deflectors longitudinally (see also Figure 2), the air is delivered to the inlet in an even stream, and at the same time, the deflectors are reliably supported.

When the air stream referred to above strikes delector I7 it divides, and some of the air stream shoots directly into the ventilator, as is shown by lines B. The rest of the air stream iiows around the body of the deflector and thence rearwardly thereof. Thus this deflector prevents the air from being sucked under the trailing wall of the ventilator and prevents the formation of a low pressure area in the rear section thereof.

When the car is moved in the opposite direction, the action of the deectors upon the air stream is reversed, and thus' the same result is produced regardless of the direction in which the car is moving. With the lters positioned horizontally, and the air moving upwardly therethrough, the filters are protected from the elements, and large pieces of dirt which might tend to remain upon the surface of the lters fall downwardly. Furthermore, with this type of construction a large amount of air is forced through the l'ilters and into the car, even though there is only a small pressure drop. At the same time, the filters are of sufficient size to thoroughly clean the air. Accordingly, a thoroughly ecient and practical ventilator construction has been provided which effectively and efliciently overcomes many diiculties mentioned herein.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention, and as many changes may be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinabove set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is t0 be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. The combination with a railway car, of means to deliver air to the interior of the car comprising, means forming an air inlet' with an opening the mouth of which is in a plane extending in the direction of car movement, one edge of said opening being a leading edge when the car is moving in one direction, and means t0 deflect air into said air inlet comprising an elongated deflector having two edges extending along and spaced from said leading edge of the opening but being canted with respect to said leading edge with one end of said deflector spaced farther from said leading edge than the other end, said deflector being streamlined in cross-section in the direction of car movement and one of its edges being a blunt edge positioned to break the wind when the car is moving in said one direction, said deflector being positioned with the center of said 4blunt edge spaced a greater distance from the mouth of said opening than the other of said edges so that it deflects air into said opening when the car is moving in said one direction.

2. The combination with a railway car, of means to deliver air to the interior of the car comprising, means forming an air inlet with an opening the mouth of which faces downwardly and is in a substantially horizontal plane. extending in the direction of car movement, one edge of said opening being a leading edge When the car is moving in one direction, and means to deflect air in a generally upwardly direction into u Y said air inlet comprising an elongated deflector the other end and thus with said one end spaced' farther from said leading edge than said other end, said dei-lector being streamlined in crosssection in the direction of car movement and one of its edges being a blunt edge positioned to brea.:A the wind when the car is moving in said one direction, said deector being positioned with the center of said blunt edge spaced a greater distance from the mouth of said opening than the other of said edges so that it deflects air into said open--v ing when the car is moving in said one direction.

3. The combination with a railway car of means to deliver air to the interior of a car comprising, means forming an air inlet including a rim dening an opening the mouth of which faces generally downwardly and is in a plane which is substantially horizontal and extends in the direction of car movement, one edge of said opening being a leading edge when the car is moving in one direction, a filter means positioned over said opening and overlapping said rim, a pair of leaf springs each mounted at its two ends and positioned to resiliently engage said lter, and means to deflect air through said lter and into said inlet comprising an elongated deector which is tearshaped in cross-section and which has a blunt edge and a sharp edge extending along said leading edge of the opening, said blunt edge being positioned to break the wind when the car is moving in said one direction.

4. The combination with a railway car of means to deliver air to the interior of the car comprising, means forming an air inlet in the outer wall of the car which inlet has its mouth for the entry of air in an outer surface extending in the direction of car movement, and means to deect air toward said mouth comprising a pair of deectors positioned along opposite edges of said mouth which edges are the leading and trailing edges when the car is moving, one of said defiectors being a leading deector when the car is moving in one direction and the other of said deectors being a leading deflector when the car is moving in the other direction, each of said deflectors being tear-shaped in cross-section to provide a blunt edge which is the leading edge when the deector is the leading deflector and a sharp edge which is the trailing edge, said blunt edge being spaced further from the plane of said outer surface than said sharp edge so that when said deflector is a leading deector said blunt edges acts to cut the air at the side of said outer surface.

5. The combination with a railway car of means to deliver air to the interior of the car comprising, means forming an air inlet in the outer wall of the car which inlet has its mouth for the entry of air in an outer surface extending in the direction of car movement and said inlet having one edge which is the leading edge when the car is moving in one direction, and means to deect air toward said mouth comprising a deector positioned along said mouth, said deflector being tear-shaped in cross-section to provide a blunt leading edge and a sharp trailing edge when the car is moving in said one direction, said blunt edge having its center spaced further from the plane of said outer surface than said sharp edge with said sharp edge positioned substantially adjacent said mouth and with said blunt edge positioned substantially along said leading edge of said inlet, with the plane which extends through said blunt and sharp edges at an acute angle to the plane of said outer surface sov that when the car moves in said one direction said blunt edge cuts the air at the side of said outer wall and air is deected to said inlet.

6. The combination with a railway car of means to deliver air to the interior of the car comprising, means forming an air inlet on the outer surface, of the car which inlet has its mouth in an outer surface extending in the direction of car movement, means to deilect air towards said mouth comprising, a pair of deflectors positioned along opposite edges of said mouth which edges are the leading and trailing edges when the car is `moving, said deflectors being tear-shaped in cross-section in the direction of car movement and each of said deectors having an axis at right angles to the plane of said cross-section which axis is substantially along said mouth, said deflectors being positioned with the respective edges comprising the blunt portions of the tearshaped cross-sections of the two deflectors ex-v` tending away from each other and with the edge of each deeotor comprising the sharp portion of the cross-section extending substantially toward said mouth.

7. The combination with a railway car of means.;

to deliver air to the interior of the car comprising, means forming an air inlet on the outer surface of the car which inlet has a generally downwardly directed mouth in an outer substantially horizontal surface extending in the direction ofY car movement, means to deect air towards said mouth comprising, a pair of deflectors positioned along opposite edges of said mouth which edges are the leading and trailing edges when the car is moving, said deectors being tear-shaped in cross- 

